Liquid type indicating gauge



Jan. 30, 1951 J. A. .JAwE'rT ETAL 2,539,665

LIQUID. TYPE INDICATING GAUGE Filed Feb. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l TTORNS'Y Tag Q Tm; i

Jam 30, 1951 .J A. .JAwETT ETAL 2,539,665

LIQUID TYPE INDICATING GAUGE IN VEN TORS JOSEPH H. 7AM/ETT l @TTORNEK Patented Jan. 30, 1951 LIQUID TYPE INDICATIN G GAUGE Joseph A. Jawett, Jamaica, and Arthur D. Bierman, Malverne, N. Y., assignors to Lquidepth Indicators Incorporated, Long Island City,

N. Y., a corporation Application February 15, 1949, Serial No. 76,446

This invention relates to pressure gauges, and more particularly to liquid-type gauges which are used to indicate the content of liquid-holding tanks, for instance.

Gauges of this type may be used, for instance, to indicate the hydrostatic pressure of a liquid supply in a tank by the displacement in a transparent indicator tube of the gauge of a column of indicating liquid by the Well known expediency of the air pressure in a conventional air bell in the liquid supply. The hydrostatic pressure may, for convenience, be converted on a scale into units of measurement to indicate the liquid content of the tank, as in feet of liquid depth, for instance, opposite the level of the liquid column in the indicator tube of the gauge. For accurate indications by the gauge, the air bell has to be aerated from time to time to expel therefrom liquid that entered from the tank, and this is customarily accomplished by forcing compressed air through the gauge into the air bell.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide a gauge of this type which is readily assembled from relatively simple and inexpensive parts into a sturdy, yet light weight construction, and which readily lends itself to disassembly for the repair or replacement of any part or parts thereof.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide in a gauge of this type a by-pass around the indicator tube for lthe passage through the gauge of compressed air for aerating purposes, without materially adding to the construction of the gauge and without offering any considered in connection with the accompanying ilhistrative drawings.

In the drawings.'

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a gauge embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is aside elevational View of the gauge;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on lthe line 3 3 of Figi;

7 Claims, (Cl. i3-323) Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken on the lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 3;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections taken on the lines 6-6 and `I-"|, respectively, of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the gauge as viewed in the direction of the arrow 8 in Fig. 2, a certain part being removed for better illustration of structure normally hidden thereby.

Referring to -the drawings, and more particuylarly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the reference numeral It designates a gauge which is preferably mounted on a board I2 that is, in turn, mountable on a Wall or other support on which the gauge is to be read. As best shown in Figs. 3 to '5, the gauge comprises top and bottom brackets graduations of which may denote, for instance,

inches of liquid depth in a tank having near the bottom thereof a conventional air bell (not shown) that is in communication with the gauge through the kair line 26. l

The air tube 22, which is preferably metallic, is permanently connected at one end with the end cover 30 of the reservoir 20 by being brazed or otherwise secured therein as at v32. end of the air tube 22 is brazed or otherwise secured in an annular recess 34 in the top bracket I4. The cylindrical side wall of the reservoir 2l'I is, in the present instance, formed by a preferably metallic tube 3B whichispermacently securdas by brazing, to the end cover 30, as well as in Aan annular recess 38 in the bottom bracket IB. Thus, the top and bottom brackets I4 and I 5, the air tube V22, and the reservoir 2l] form a rigid unit.

The top and Abottom brackets I4 and I6 are prefer vi0 maybe-made of sheet -metal formed into The other i the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 6, and comprises a web 54 on which the scale 28 rests, and inwardly turned side margins 56 which form a guideway for the scale 28.

The above-described unit I4, I6, 20 and 22 is enclosed in back and on the opposite sides in a shell 55 which is preferably made sheet metal formed into the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. 6 and being open at the top and bottom of the gauge. The shell 66 is at its open front provided with inwardly bent margins 62 that form the sides of a window 64 of pleasing appearance (Fig. 1) through which to observe the scale 28 as well as the indicator tube I8 of the gauge. The top and bottom brackets I4 and I5 of the gauge nt fairly accurately in the shell 68 (Figs. 3 to 8), and the bent margins 62 of the shell 66 preferably rest against cut-away side margins 65 and 6'I of the front faces 66 and 68 of the top and bottom brackets I4 and I6, respectively (Figs. 3, '7 and 8).

The unit I4, I5, 26 and 22 is releasably held in place in the shell 56 by means of top and bottom caps 74 and 76, respectively, which may also be made of sheet metal and formed into general U- shape. The yoke portion 'I8 of the top cap 'I4 overlies the front face 66 of the top bracket I4 and the adjacent bent margins 62 of the shell 68, While the opposite legs 86 of the top cap 'I4 straddle the adjacent sides of the shell 66 and are secured thereto and te the adjacent sides of the top bracket I4 by screws 82, for instance. The leg 88' of the top cap l5 is notched as at 84 (Fig. 5) to clear the fitting 24. The yoke portion 55 of the bottom cap I5 extends over the front face 68 of the bottom bracket I6 and the adjacent bent margins 62 of the shell 66, while the opposite legs 88 of the bottom cap I6 straddle the adjacent sides of the shell 58 and are secured thereto and 'to the adjacent sides of the bottom bracket I6 by screws 98, for instance. The yoke portion 86 of the bottom cap I5 is preferably provided with an inwardly bent extension 92 (Figs. 2 and 3) which normally covers an aperture 94 in the ybottom bracket I6 and may lbe secured to the latter by screws 86, f or instance. The aperture S4 in the bottom bracket I5 is of the shape shown in Fig. 8, permitting the scale 28 to be slid into and from the scale holder 56 through the bottom bracket I6 when the bottom cap i6 is removed, as will be readily understood.

Suitably mounted on, and communicating with a' chamber |86 in the top bracket I4, is a preferably'hand-operated pump P which serves for the purpose of aerating the previously mentioned air bell by forcing atmospheric air through the gauge and the air line 25. This pump may be exactly like that shown and described in the co-pendingapplication of Daniel H. Bierman and Joseph A. Jawett, Serial No. 23,574, led April 27, 1948, wherefore the pump P requires no further description, particularly since the same forms no part of the present invention. The pump P may have a threaded outlet |62 by means of which the former is conveniently mounted on the .bracket I@ (Fig. 3).

The chamber |08 in the top bracket I4 communicates with a duct |64, one end of which is in permanent communication with a conduit |86 that extends through the air tube 22 and into the indicating liquid L in the reservoir 20. The tube |66 is with its top end brazed or otherwise secured in a bore |68 in the top bracket I4, and thus becomes a part of the earlier described unit I4, I6, 26 and 22. Brazed or otherwise secured in the other end of the duct |64 in the top bracket I4 is a relatively small tube ||2 carrying a cup I I4 (Fig. 3). Secured in the cup I I4 as by a suitable cement, is the top end of the transparent in- 5 dicator tube I8, the lower end of which is similarly secured in a cup |56 carried by a relatively small tube H8 (Fig. 3). The lower tube ||8 extends into the interior of the reservoir 20 through a cylindrical wall |20 provided by the bottom bracket I6 (Figs. 5 and 7). Preferably, the tube H8 projects into a depressed portion |22 in the bottom bracket I6 so as to be in communication with the liquid in the reservoir 2|) at the lowest point in the latter. The lower tube |I8 is, as

best shown in Fig. 8, so bent around the scale holder 55 as not to interfere with the described placement of the scale 28 into, or its removal from, the scale holder through the bottom bracket I6.

The scale holder 56 is held against the face 46 of the bottom bracket I6 and against the undercut lugs 48 of the top bracket by brackets |25 and |28, respectively. Both brackets are preferably made from sheet metal and formed into general L-sha-pe (Fig. 3). The bracket |26 has one leg I3@ thereof interposed between the yoke portion 'I8 of the top cap 'I4 and the adjacent front face 65 of the top bracket I4, while the other leg |32 thereof engages the scale holder 56 and is notched 30 at |34 to clear the indicatol` tube I8. The other bracket I 28 has one leg |36 thereof interposedv between the yoke portion 86 of the bottom cap 'I6 and the adjacent front face 68 of the bottom bracket I6, while the other leg |38 engages the scale holder 58 and is notched at |48 to clear the indicator tube I8. The legs |32 and |38 of the top and bottom caps 'I4 and '16, respectively, extend also underneath the bent margins 62 of the shell 56 in the fashion shown in Fig. 6. The legs 40 |32 and |38 of the top and bottom caps 'I4 and 16, respectively, by straddling the indicator tube I8 in the fashion best shown in Fig. 6, also prevents accidental bending of the relatively weak tubes ||2 and |I8 and according lateral displacement of the indicator tube I8 from its correct position relative to the scale 28.

Since the scale holder 56 is relatively long, and may for its intended purpose be made from relatively weak sheet metal, it is advisable to brace 60 the scale holder at least once in its longitudinal extent. To this end, there is interposed between the rear wall |44 of the shell 5D and the scale holder a brace |46 of sheet metal, or the like (Fig. 3). The brace |46 may further be provided with bent margins |48 (Fig. 5) that are adapted to bear against the adjacent side walls of the shell 66. thereby also reinforcing the latter. The brace I 46 is provided with an aperture |56 through which the air tube 22 extends. Preferably, the

brace |46 is around the aperture |56 therein radially slotted as at |52 (Fig. 6) to form a plurality of prongs |54 that engage the air tube 22 in a somewhat yielding fashion and thus retain the brace |46 in any position along the air tube 22 into which it is shifted in the assembly of the gauge.

The conduit |66 is preferably a metallic tube of some slight resiliency. In order to prevent destruction of the hermetic seal between the top The instant gauge is noteworthy for its sirnplicity of construction. Thus, the unit I4, i6, 20, 22 and i involves simple parts 'that may readily be pre-assembled while the remainder of the gauge consists of simple, formed sheet metal stampings and such simple parts as the mounting board i2, the indicator tube i8, the standard iitting 2li, and simple tube connections. The instant gauge is also noteworthy for the ready assembly of the unit I4, I6, 20, 22 and H36 `with the remaining parts of the gauge, and the correspondingly facile disassembly of the parts from the referred unit for the repair of the gauge or the replacement of defective parts. Another noteworthy feature of the instant gauge lies in the ready interchangeability of scales without having to dismantle the gauge beyond removing the bottom cap 1. By using sheet metal stampings to the extent described, the gauge is also of relatively light weight and little bulk, yet is sturdy in construction and highly eicient in operation.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A gauge, comprising a unit providing spaced brackets, and a tubular member connecting said brackets, a sheet metal shell enclosing said unit on the back and opposite sides and being open at both ends and at the front, a scale extending substantially parallel to said tubular member between the latter and the open front of said shell and concealing said tubular member from the front, a transparent indicator tube extending substantially parallel to said scale between the latter and the open front of said shell and being connected at its opposite ends with said brackets, respectively, and caps releasably secured to said brackets, respectively, said caps closing the adjacent ends, respectively, of said shell and concealing the adjacent brackets, respectively.

2. A gauge as set forth in claim l, further comprising a sheet metal brace in said shell extending behind said scale transversely of said tubular member and yieldingly engaging the opposite sides, respectively, of said shell.

3. A gauge as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a sheet metal brace in said shell extending transversely of said tubular member between said scale and the back of said shell and yieldingly engaging the opposite sides, respectively, of said shell, said brace having an aperture through which said tubular member extends.

4. A gauge as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a sheet metal brace in said shell extending transversely of said tubular member between said scale and the back of said shell and engaging the opposite sides, respectively, of said shell, said brace having an aperture through which said tubular member extends and the edge of said aperture being slit at spaced points to provide prongs yieldingly engaging said tubular member.

5. A gauge as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a holder for said scale into which the latter is longitudinally slidable, means for supporting said holder in said shell, one of said brackets having an aperture through which to slide said scale into said holder, and the cap adjacent said one bracket covering said aperture in said one bracket.

6. A gauge, comprising a unit providing spaced brackets and a tubular member connecting said brackets and forming a reservoir at its lower end adjacent one of said brackets, a sheet metal shell enclosing said unit on the back and on the opposite sides and being open at both ends and at the front, a scale, a holder for said scale into which the latter is longitudinally slidable, means for supporting said holder in said shell in covering relation with said tubular member, a transparent indicator tube extending substantially parallel to said scale between the latter and the open front of said shell and being connected at one end with the other of said brackets, caps releasably secured to said brackets, respectively, said caps closing the adjacent ends, respectively, of said shell and concealing the adjacent brackets, respectively, and a tubular element connecting the other end of said indicator tube with said reservoir, said tubular element being bent around one side of said holder so as to be out of the path of the scale when slid into sa'id holder, and said one bracket having an aperture through which to slide said scale into said holder.

'7. A gauge comprising spaced brackets, one of said brackets having an interior passageway and an inlet to said passageway, and a tubular member extending between said brackets and mounted therein, said member being closed at the end thereof nearest said one bracket, part of said member including the end thereof remote from said one bracket being adapted to serve as a reservoir for indicating liquid, said other bracket constituting a portion of said reservoir, an inlet for said member including an additional passageway dened in said one bracket, a transparent indicator tube extending substantially parallel to said member and communicating at duit being a metallic tube of smaller ycrosse sectional area than said tubular member and being bent in the latter so as to be in yielding engagement with longitudinally spaced, opposite peripheral portions of said tubular member. JOSEPH A. JAWETT. ARTHUR D. BIERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 795,833 House Aug. 1, 1905 2,032,681 Zenner Mar. 3, 1936 

